Push button type safety seat belt buckle



WQE. FOSTER ETAL PUSH BUTTON TYPE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE Oct. 31, 1967 Filed Feb. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS WA4 TER E. F0375@ V A@05E/PT, C. BMC/f WMe/M ATTORNEY;

Oct. 31, 1967- w. E. FOSTER ETAL 3,349,445

PUSH BUTTON TYfE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed Feb. 21, 1966 Fig, 6.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS www@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oli ce 3,349,445 PUSH BUTTON TYPE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE Walter E. Foster and Robert C. Black, Lexington, Ky., assignors to Irving Air Chute Company, Inc., Lexingtou, Ky., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,725 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-77) This invention relates to improvements in buckles, more particularly utilized in connection with safety seat belts.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a safety seat belt buckle of the push button type having an improved release means which will eliminate inherent disadvantages of conventionalV lift lid release safety buckles.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a push button and durable buckle for safety seat belts, of the push button type, capable of being operated easily, even though the operator is wearing gloves.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a push button type of buckle for safety seat belts provided with a pivoted actuating push button mounted so as to provide a maximum mechanical advantage compatible with lift requirement for disengagement of a conventional latch member with reduced required release effort.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved type of push button buckle for safety seat belts which includes a reduced mass in comparison with a conventional lift lid type buckle, thus minimizing tendency towards inertial release of the latch on impact during emergency conditions.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved push button type of buckle for safety seat belts in which theV cover is provided with a recessed area for access to a push button actuating means, thus minimizing the possibility of accidental release arising from the buckle being brought into contact with other parts ofthe vehicle or other objects.

A further object of this invention is a safety seat belt buckle having an assembly of parts establishing a barrier means against accidental involuntary release of the buckle under all, except controlled, conditions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the safety buckle and belt webbing, showing the belt buckle in locked condition.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the details shown in FIG. 1, showing the actuating member or push button depressed for releasing the belt locking ton-gue, and also showing the adjusting end of the belt in relaxed position.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the buckle, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1 but not showing the buckle cover nor tongue plate.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cover of the improved buckle.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the cover taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Patented Oct. 31, 1967 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the buckle cover shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a push button belt tongue actuating member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the improved buckle details with the cover, belt and locking tongue removed.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved buckle. A belt B is used, of any approved type, preferably nylon webbing. The buckle includes a casing C, latching means D and actuating means E for the latch.

The belt B preferably includes a belt clip or tongue plate 10 having one end of the tlexible belt webbing 11 attached thereto permanently, as shown at 12. The webbing 11 at the opposite end of the buckle is looped at 13 for length adjustment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The casing C preferably includes a stamped metal section portion 15, shown in FIG. 8, comprising a base wall 16 and right angled spaced side Walls 17 and 1S. The base wall 16 is provided with a transverse opening 19 therein adapted to freely and loosely receive therethrough the webbing loop 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is looped around the knurled pin or member 20, which is of well known construction, as described and shown in U.S. Patent 3,203,064. The side walls 17 and 18 are provided with inclined slots 21 adapted to receive the ilat ends of the knurled pin or roller 20. The adjusting end of the Webbing is wrapped around the pin 20. When the belt is under tension the ends of the pin 20 slide downwardly in their slots and bind the webbing against the rear edge of the opening 19, as shown in FIG. 1 in order to hold the belt adjustment. Adjustment is effected by moving Vthe knurled pin 20 to the forward position shown in FIG. 2.

It is known in the art to provide pivoted latching dogs and it is also old in the art to provide a locking tongue having an opening 25 therein. The locking tongue 10 is preferably of metal and completely flat. It is capable of sliding flush on the inner surface of the bottom Wall 16 up to the engagement with a stop flange 26.

The latching means D preferably consists of a latching plate 3i) provided with upstanding spaced right angled side flanges 31 adapted to move against the inside surfaces of the base plate flanges 17 and 18. The plate 30 eX- tends the entire width between the plates 17 and 18 and at its rear end it is provided with a downwardly inclined ramp 31a struck along the edge of an opening 32 in the plate 36. A pivot pin 40 is mounted on the flanges 17 and 18 as a means of pivotally mounting the anges 31 of the latching plate 30 in the casing, as shown. A coil spring 45 is located on the pin 40, having an end 43 engaging the opstanding flange 42 on the rear end of the latching member D; the other end 44 of the spring engaging a stop extension 46. The spring 45 is biased to normally force the latching means D to its locking position as shown in FIG. 1.

The tongue plate 10 is adapted to be slipped into the casing over the bottom wall 16 of the base as shown in FIG. l. It cams the plate 30 upwardly as it engages the ramp 31 until the ramp drops into the tongue opening 25. This locks the tongue 10 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

The latching means D intermediate the ends on the wall 42 is provided with an inverted stirrup 50 defining an opening 51 adapted to co-act with the actuating means E for raising and lowering the latching plate or dog between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the latching or actuating means E for lifting the latching plate the same comprises a push button member 60, formed of metal, including a sloping body portion 61 of a width slightly less than the distance between the inside surface of the side walls 17 and 18. This body portion 61 is provided with lateral pivot projections 62 which are adapted to rest in sockets or recesses 63 provided inwardly from the top edges of the flanges 17 and 18. This mounts the push button member 61B for pivotal movement between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A protecting flange 66 may be downturned on the forward end of the actuating member 60. The lifting member is furthermore provided between its ends with a -forwardly extending laterally reduced tongue or crank portion -71 extending transverse to the pivot axis of t-he lifting member 60. It extends downward and then forward. At its lower end it is provided with a dog actuating flange 71 of T-shaped formation adapted to fit in the stirrup opening 51.

It is important to note the compactness of the device. The actuating member 60 is located in the casing above the knurled bar 20 in an out-of-the-way position. The ange 71 thereof extends forwardly.

The casing C furthermore includes a cover 79 which comprises a top wall 80, side walls 81, a rear wall 82 and a front wall 83. The front wall 83 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly sloping portion 33a as a means to guide the tongue plate 10 into position. As is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the cover 79 is provided with a trapezoidally shaped, rather large, opening 85 extending along the rear of the top wall 80 and a portion of the upper part of the rear wall 82.

The cover 79 is of stiff plastic which is sufficiently bendable to frictionally grip the outer sides of the base walls 17 and 18; the same being provided with projections 90, see FIG. 5, adapted to t into openings 91 of the side walls 17 and 18 when the cover is closed. At their front ends the walls 17 and 18 are provided with projections 93 which extend slightly forward so the lower open end of the wall 83a can engage the same and hold the cover 79 securely in position. It will `be noted from FIG. 1 that the cover opening 85 is very wide and also extends quite a distance along the longitudinal center line of the buckle. The rear portion of the latching dog slopes at its downward end 61 to the rear as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover 79 also has the same slopes to protect the actuating member E against accidental release. The cover opening 85 is sufficiently large and covers a broad area so that an operator with a gloved hand can readily press the actuating member to release the buckle. Note that the plate 61 is completely countersunk inwardly of the cover walls 80 and 82 and lies below the top edges of the walls 81 surrounding the opening 85.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the spring 4S normally holds the latching dog D in a latching position from which it can be raised by insertion of the locking tongue or by pressure of the actuating member 60. The arrangement is such as to eliminate inherent disadvantages of conventional lift lid release safety buckles. There is also avoidance of accidential release opening under emergency impact conditions. The pivot point access of the push button member is located so as to provide a maximum mechanical advantage compatible with lift requirements for disengagement of a conventional latch member, with reduced release effort. The actuating member 60 is protected against accidental release from contact with other parts of the vehicle or handling of the buckle in a normal fashion.

The cover 79 can be lifted from the metal casing 15 by lifting its side walls to slide off the projections and off the ends 93 of the casing side walls 17 and 18.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a safety belt buckle construction, a combination of a casing including a base wall, upstanding relatively spaced side walls and a cover defining a chamber therein and a top opening to said chamber, means connected to the casing for adjustably clamping belt webbing thereto, a latching dog comprising a plate pivotally mounted upon said casing side walls within the chamber, spring biasing means normally engaging and urging the latching dog and its plate downwardly towards the base wall into latching position, lifting means pivotally mounted upon said casing and located within the chamber casing having a crank portion, a webbing attaching tongue plate having an opening therein, said latching dog plate having a depending rear extension in close proximity to the base wall adapted to enter the tongue plate opening under influence of the spring biasing means upon full insertion of the tongue plate between the base wall and the plate of the latching dog and to retail*L the tongue plate within the casing, said latching dog at its rear end beyond the pivot axis of the dog engaging the lifting means crank portion whereby the latter is normally urged by the spring biasing means into an inoperative position, and movable push button means mounted at the opening of the cover of the casing and operatively associated with said lifting means and adapted when depressed into the casing to pivotally move the lifting means crank portion to slidably engage the dog and lift it out of latching position with respect to the tongue plate.

2. The buckle construction defined in claim 1 in which the latching dog comprises a plate portion having its bottom surface located below its pivot axis and spaced from the top surface of the base wall, said dog plate having a ramp type dog extension thereon sloping rearwardly and downwardly when the latching dog is closed whereby the extension of the dog can slip into the opening of the tongue as the latter is inserted into the buckle casing.

3. The buckle construction as defined in claim 1 in which the spring biasing means also normally moves the push button means into upward manual operating position with respect to the cover opening.

4. The buckle as defined in claim 1 in which the spring biasing means and latching dog normally urge the lifting means downwardly toward the base wall into latching position and in which the lifting means has the push button integrally secured thereto and movable therewith and located at the opposite side of the pivot axis of the lifting means with respect to the movable engagement of the lifting means crank portion with the latching dog.

5. The buckle defined in claim 4 in which the means for adjustably clamping belt webbing to the casing is mounted in the casing chamber at the rear end thereof beneath said push button and in non-interfering relation with the pushing operation thereof.

6. In a safety belt buckle construction the combination of a casing including a base wall, upstanding relatively spaced side walls and a cover defining a chamber therein having a top opening, means connected to the casing for adjustably clamping belt webbing thereto, a latching dog comprising a plate pivotally mounted upon said casing side walls and located within the chamber, spring biasing means normally engaging and urging the latching dog and its plate downwardly towards the base wall into latching position, an elongated member pivoted between its ends on said side walls comprising at the front of said pivot a lifting lever located within the chamber having a lifting crank portion, extending forwardly of its pivot axis, a webbing attaching front plate having an opening therein, said latching dog having a depending rear extension in close proximity to the base wall adapted to enter the tongue plate opening under influence of the spring biasing means upon full insertion of the tongue plate between the the tongue plate Within the casing, said latcbing dog at its rear end beyond the pivot axis of the dog having an upstanding portion with an opening therein to receive the crank portion of said lifting means whereby the elongated member is normally urged by the spring biasing means into an inoperative position, and a movable push button extension formed as a part of said elongated member mounted at the rear of the pivot aXis of said elongated member located at the opening of the cover of the casing and adapted when depressed into the casing to pivotally move the lifting means crank portion to slidably engage the dog and lift it out of latching position with respect to the tongue plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 Warner 24-230.1 XR 1/ 1965 Lehman 24-230.1 XR 4/ 1965 Murphy 24-230.1 XR 8/ 1965 Murphy 24-230.1 XR 1/ 1966 Carter 24-230.1 XR 2/ 1966 Meeker 24-230\.1 XR 9/ 1966 Humphrey 2li- 230.1 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 1908 Germany.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE CONSTRUCTION, A COMBINATION OF A CASING INCLUDING A BASE WALL, UPSTANDING RELATIVELY SPACED SIDE WALLS AND A COVER DEFINING A CHAMBER THEREIN AND A TOP OPENING TO SAID CHAMBER, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CASING FOR ADJUSTABLY CLAMPING BELT WEBBING THERETO, A LATCHING DOG COMPRISING A PLATE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID CASING SIDE WALLS WITHIN THE CHAMBER, SPRING BIASING MEANS NORMALLY ENGAGING AND URGING THE LATCHING DOG AND ITS PLATE DOWNWARDLY TOWARDS THE BASE WALL INTO LATCHING POSITION, LIFTING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID CASING AND LOCATED WITHIN THE CHAMBER CASING HAVING A CRANK PORTION, A WEBBING ATTACHING TONGUE PLATE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, SAID LATCHING DOG PLATE HAVING A DEPENDING REAR EXTENSION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BASE WALL ADAPTED TO ENTER THE TONGUE PLATE OPENING UNDER INFLUENCE OF THE SPRING BIASING MEANS UPON FILL INSERTION OF THE TONGUE PLATE BETWEEN THE BASE WALL AND THE PLATE OF THE LATCHING DOG AND TO RETAIN THE TONGUE PLATE WITHIN THE CASING, SAID LATCHING DOG AT ITS REAR END BEYOND THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE DOG ENGAGING THE LIFTING MEANS CRANK PORTION WHEREBY THE LATTER IS NORMALLY URGED BY THE SPRING BIASING MEANS INTO AN INOPERATIVE POSITION, AND MOVABLE PUSH BUTTON MEANS MOUNTED AT THE OPENING OF THE COVER OF THE CASING AND OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LIFTING MEANS AND ADAPTED WHEN DEPRESSED INTO THE CASING TO PIVOTALLY MOVE THE LIFTING MEANS CRANK PORTION TO SLIDABLY ENGAGE THE DOG AND LIFT IT OUT OF LATCHING POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE TONGUE PLATE. 